Running-gear.



110,858,807. PATENTEDJULY2,1907.

T. A. GRAY.

RUNNING GEAR. APPLIUATION FILED 00122, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

THOMAS ASBERY GRAY, OF FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA.

RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed October 2,1906. $erial No. 337,061.

' larly to the type of wagons having the customary bolster, sand bar and king bolt, and a removable .box body, and my invention consists, essentially, of a means by which the bolster may, when desired, be locked to the sand bar to prevent the detachment or removal of the king-bolt and the accidental dismemberment of the parts of the running gear when lifting the wagon body from usual support or bed.

The invention also consists of the combination of a bolster and sand bar, one of said parts having a catchmember and the other part having a vertically disposed turnable rod or shaft with an operating handle at one portion and a flanged head or crank at the opposite portion said flanged head or crank adapted to engage with the aforesaid catch member to lock the bolster and sand bar together against vertical displacement one relative to the other, said head or crank projecting from one side of the shaft or rod whereby the turning of the rod or shaft from one position to another results in the disengagement of the head or crank from said catch-member.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in Which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views,-

Figure l, is a perspective view of a portion of a front running gear showing my invention applied thereto and showing the parts in their unlocked position with dotted lines showing the locked position. Fig. 2, is an enlarged cross sectional view. Fig. 3, is a detail of the rod or shaft detached. Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications In the ordinary construction of farm wagons, or other vehicles employing a running gear which includes a bolster, sand-bar, king-bolt and removable body, it is common experience for the king-bolt to be lifted from its seat in the sand-bar and axle when the body of the vehicle is lifted from the running gear. The cause of this is, primarily, that because of the warping of the body or the usual side standards between which said body is contained, the body fits so snug between the standards that when power is applied to raise the body,

the bolster to which the said standards are fixed, is lifted also thereby Withdrawing the king-bolt and separating the axle and sand-bar and practically dismembering the front running gear. It is true that in some instances nuts or like fastening means engage the lower end of the king-bolt to prevent vertical movement of the same but it is equally true that the constant jarring to which the wagons are subjected in traveling over rough roads, results in the nuts or fastening devices soon being jarred loose and lost and that when the body is lifted as before described, the king-bolt is withdrawn with the obj cctionable result as before stated.

The object of my invention is to supply the bolster and sand-bar with interlockable connections which are k normally disengaged but which, when the wagon body is to be removed, are thrown into engagement to lock the bolster to the sand-bar and prevent the disunion of the two. I

In the drawings I have shown a simple form of lock but to this exact form I do not limit myself as the parts are susceptible of variation without any departure from the spirit of the invention.

In the present instance, the female or catch member A of the locking connection is fixed to the bolster in the range of action of the maleor latching member B which is turnably mounted on the sand bar, but it is evident that it is substantially unimportant which member of the locking connection is carried by the bolster and which by the sand bar; also whether or not the connections are on the front or rear surfaces of the bolster and sand bar.

The female member A in its simplest form is a plate secured to the under side of the central part of the bolster and it may have a perforation through which the king-bolt 0 passes. The edge of the plate may be substantially flush with the vertical side of the bolster, and the latter may be grooved or cut away at b to expose suflicient of the plate to enable the male member of the locking connection to engage therewith, or the edge of the plate may project beyond the side of the bolster sufficiently for the purpose stated.

The male member B of the locking connection is shown as a shaft or rod journaled in a plate or bearing d fixed to the sand-bar, said shaft or rod being bent at its lower end or otherwise provided with a handle portion D by which the shaft or rod may be turned in its bearing. The shaft or rod is vertically disposed, and at its upper end it isformed or provided with a crank portion which may be of the form of a flange or head E one side of which is removed to give said head or flange a segmental form as at e, said head being, to all intents and purposes, a short crank arm or member which may be turned into and out of engagement with the plate A or female member of the locking connection. If desired, the crank arm may be formed by bending the end of the shaft as at e in Fig. 4.

In the normal position of the parts, see full lines in Fig. 1, the shaft or rod is turned to remove the crank or flange from its engagement with the plate A and to position the handle portion D lengthwise of the sand bar, in which position the parts may be held against accidental movement by a clip or plate F or other device being turned over into engagement with said handle portion. If now desired to remove the Wagon body, the handle portion of the shaft or rod is released from its engagement with the clip or plate F and turned to the opposite side of the pivotal axis of the shaft or rod. This results in giving the shaft or red a half-turn and brings the crank or flange over and into locking engagement with the edge of the plate A and thereby secures the bolster to the sand-bar so that Whatever force may be applied to remove the wagon-body, the bolster will not be lifted with it and the king bolt will not be removed, and the parts ofthe front runninggear will not be disconnected and the bolster may pivot upon the king-bolt without disturbing the engagement of the upper end of the shaft or rod with the plate A.

The devices described are very simple and may be cheaply made. They are effective in operation and provide a substantial, easily operable, lock for the purpose stated, and they may be applied to Wagons already built without ditliculty and at little expense.

The member A may also represent the wear plate commonly used between the bolster and sand-bar. If desired, a,spring 9 may be connected to the shaft or rod to throw the latter into operation when the handle portion of said shaft or rod is released from its clip or plate. Also, if desired, a second clip or plate may be secured to the sand-bar, as F, to securely hold the shaft when the parts have been turned into their locked positions.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1.111 running gear having a holster, sand-bar and king-bolt, a cranked shaft or rod vertically disposed and turnahly mounted on the sand-bar, and a plate tixed to the bolster and over the edge of which the cranked portion of the shaft or rod is turnahle whereby the holster and king-bolt are held against: vertical displacement.

2.111 running gear having a holster, sand-hat and king-bolt, a shaft or rod vertically journaled on the sandhar, having an operating handle portion said shaft. or rod having its upper end projected beyond the plane of one of its outer sides. and a plate secured to the holster and over the edge of which said projected portion of the shaft or rod is turnahle to lock the holster to the sand-liar against vertical displacement.

3.111 running gear having a holster. sand har and kingholt. a shaft or rod vertically disposed and turnahle on the sand bar, said shaft having one end bent to form a handle and the opposite end having a segmental flange projecting from one side. a plate secured to the holster and having its edge exposed and over which exposed edge the projecting flange of the shaft or rod is tnrnahle to lock the bolster and sand-bar together against vertical displacement. and means engaging said handle portion to hold the shaft or rod in a normal unloelied position.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of two suhserihing witnesses.

THOMAS ASlilGltY GRAY.

Witnesses \Yanxi-ni Sco'r'r, \Y. I. VnNAnLn. 

